To ask where young families are moving to when leaving London?

[Yellowstickynote]

DH and I live in SW London and absolutely love it. So much access to green spaces, wonderful bars & restaurants on our doorstep and so many friends in the area. Sadly, we own a 2 bed flat without lift access. We need more space, and heart is set on 3 house w/ garden, which is out of our budget if we remain in SW London.

We have Hybrid jobs (in office 1-2 days per week), so need good commuting links in to London (any London station is fine as can work from multiple offices). Most importantly, we want to move to a vibrant area which has plenty of things to do for young couples in their 30s, both with children and without. E.g. we love being near to green spaces and going to wine bars and restaurants. Some of the areas we’ve visited are lovely but so quiet and a much older crowd. We’d love to move somewhere that’s full of other young couples/families where we can make friends in the area.

Any recommendations welcome! Our budget isn’t the highest - don’t want to spend over 750k if we can help it.

Another vote for Aylesbury.

As a PP mentioned, it has good links to London ( including from Amersham and Tring). A decent selection of pubs, eating places, parks and activities during the week.

Absolutely!

I didn't think you'd stand a chance to get much decent in Windsor for £750k, but actually there's some beautiful properties within a mile of Windsor & Eton station:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151126616#/?channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149436362#/?channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151280993#/?channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151104986#/?channel=RES_BUY

Bristol seems very popular for people moving from London- Surrounded by lovely countryside, but not as cheap as it once was.

I grew up in West London, then moved to south for a bit which I personally didn’t rate as much as it was a bit dull in comparison but I’m sure it has changed quite a bit. I would disagree with the idea that the further out you move the more you’ll get for your money, Brighton is one of the most expensive places to live in the country but could get a terrace house period property near the centre for that which is better if you want to have access to a nightlife. I would say that Hove is more of a wine bar place (although I know people who are a bit mocking of its nouveau riche credentials. Brighton North (away from the sea) is more of a pub place. Places in the suburbs don’t really have pubs or wine bars. I wouldn’t compare Reigate or Godalming to Brighton though as Brighton is a city that has its own culture a bit like Oxford and Bristol, I.e they have a vibe that is disconnected to London. I still have loads of family in West and North London as does DH and you realise when you visit them that Brighton is a bit out there still despite the influx of Londoners (I am one but came here when it was cheap and much more edgy and you could rent a huge period property seafront flat for £600 a month, my friends and I actually turned one down as it was too big!!, so I wouldn’t count myself as a DFL in the modern sense of the word).

I would agree that the commute to London from Brighton is quite annoying and expensive In fact when I was returning to work in central London after maternity leave in 2010s we thought about buying a big flat back in West London but my DH didn’t want to lose the house and thought the sea was more fun for our DC. It is very busy on the trains compared to 10/15 years ago, more commuters.

Hampton, Kingston, Twickenham

We moved out to Buckinghamshire, 35m to London Marylebone. 20m drive to Oxford, less than 5m drive to nearest market town with shops, cafes, bars (also 2 pubs, shop, restaurant, coffee shop in village we live in) surrounded by countryside and young families.

Horsham. Has everything you need, an hour into London, great schools, very safe, lovely community, lots happening, green space and the coast isn't far.

Most people have either moved here form London or grown up here.

Oxted.

Just outside M25, lovely high street with very good restaurants, couple of bars, lovely little cinema.
Trains into London 40 minutes.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146289683?utmcampaign=property-details&utmmcontent=buying&utmmedium=sharing&utmmsource=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

The trains on the myb-ayb line are awful and not getting any better. Chiltern Rail has run the service down badly (oldest trains in the SE network) and they’re forever being interrupted by HS2 works or stopping well short of Aylesbury.

I also don’t think Aylesbury is the vibe the OP is going for…

You could just about get into Chorleywood, Little Chalfont or maybe Amersham for £750 x 3 beds. Still on the London Underground network so commuting is much cheaper than mainline trains.

You can absolutely find a 3 bed within that budget in London.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151220189

This is the area I live, it's right next to tower bridge, on top of the city and a beautiful area with great schools. My office is in Oxford st, and the commute is 30 mins on the tube.

This is SE London, Peckham.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151369418

For west London/paddington they all seem to move to Newbury if my clients are anything to go by. Great transport links, beautiful countryside, lots going on and being international headquarters if Vodafone seems to keep the cafes and bars busy. Quick check 10 properties in your price range within a mile of the stations and 23 in 3miles ( some in the actual countryside!).

Here you go. West Norwood has everything you want - short walk to Streatham Common, good schools, cafes, great community, cinema etc.

Am annoyed this one wasn't around where we were house hunting!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150126188#/?channel=RES_BUY

Hampshire, Winchester, Southampton, Andover .

Surrey? Guildford is wonderful and has 2 stations - walking distance to London Road station in Guildford will have things in your budget.

I'd stay in London if you want that vibe and would second Charlton SE7. Very close to Blackheath and Greenwich Park and the river. Lots of bars and restaurants, farmers markets etc. Primary schools generally good and a couple of the secondaries on the rise. Many kids go to the grammars in surrounding boroughs or to private. Transport links good and no heavy or long commutes or suburbia.

Along the Elizabeth line?

Reading?
Maidenhead?

Nah. Many people in London would never be able to afford a 750k property. You might get less for your money but it’s a high budget, even if you can find lots of houses that cost double, triple, 10x that in London. I live there (and own property) and would never be able to afford that. In my area it would easily get you a 4 bed semi but I imagine it’s not gentrified enough for many.

Oxfordshire.

35 minutes to Paddington from Didcot Parkway Station.

Lovely villages around here. Great sense of community. Have never looked back.

Look along the Greater Anglia line from Brentwood going east, either within the Brentwood area itself or the villages a bit further out. The train service is really good and reliable, and if your station is Shenfield (at the east end of Brentwood proper) you can be at Liverpool Street in 23 minutes. The countryside is beautiful too.

Thank you, but we aren’t looking for a flat unfortunately.

Why do people make these kind of comments. Does this poster live in a cave away from civilization? The OP said she lives in London. You don’t have to be a current affairs expert to know that London house prices are high. And that £750k is not a high budget.

But there are lots of areas where it will buy you a house, ask any Londoner. They just won’t be the fashionable places with a Gail’s 😆